Iran Turning Into Major Economic, Scientific Power: MP

Tehran, Dec 23, IRNA – Anti-Iran economic sanctions do not stem from nuclear program and they are rooted in the fact that Iran is turning into a major economic and scientific power, head of Majlis' Planning, Budgetary and Audit Commission Gholamreza Mesbahi-Moghaddam said on Saturday. Addressing a specialized meeting titled 'Resistance economy's theoretical bases and cultural domains', he said that Iran's nuclear activities are put under supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Anti-Iran sanctions are not originated in nuclear activities; rather they see that Iran's economic position has advanced to 16th from 20th within a year, he said. It is anticipated that Iran will gain the eighth economic position within five years, he said, noting that's why the enemy has resorted to the sanctions. Based on the statistics, despite all the pressures, Iran's economic growth excluding oil stood at 5.2 percent, the MP said. He said that under the circumstances which the enemy tries to block the country's economic growth, the Islamic Republic of Iran adopted the resistance economy. Underlining that resistance economy is different from the austerity measures, Mesbahi-Moghaddam added that the latter is exercised at a time when the country is grappling with difficulties. While austerity measures are non-productive, the resistance economy is dynamic and a move forward to build up national economy in a way to thwart the conspiracy of sanctions. "If we do not resist, we will lose our achievements."/end